CLEVELAND – Indians first baseman Matt LaPorta was helped from the field with what the team announced as a right lower leg injury in the third inning of a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.
LaPorta was hurt when caught in a rundown between second and third. He was helped from the field by third-base coach Steve Smith and assistant trainer Rick Jameyson.
LaPorta reached on a bizarre play to open the inning. He lined a ball that Pirates shortstop Ronny Cedeno got a glove on with a leaping effort. The ball bounced out of his glove and toward second baseman Neil Walker, whose throw in the dirt skipped past first baseman Lyle Overbay for a two-base error.
Orlando Cabrera followed with an easy grounder to Cedeno and LaPorta tried to go to third.
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